If you are in the mood for a retelling of the story of Ragnarok and how it came to be, this is a book for you. Angrboda is the main character, although she has other names. She survived being burned 3 times before she woke on the edge of Ironwood missing her heart. Loki returned it to her and thus the tale begins. The tale spirals through the familiar story of the Norse gods but framed from the view of Angrboda and her concerns. This framing makes the tale much more personal and less abstract as so many retellings are. A very nicely paced tale.

This was a lovely and really beautifully written retelling of Ragnarok. Great for fans of Tolkien and similarly epic storytellers.

This might just be my favorite read of the year. An exceptional story, and a wonderful debut. I hope we hear many more stories from Ms. Gornichec.

My entire knowledge base of Norse mythology comes from two sources: Neil Gaiman and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As I read this book, I had Neil's voice telling me the story and I pictured Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Yes, Loki's description is different in this novel, but he's still the charming trickster, and we get to see beyond the front he hides behind.

If you've ever introduced yourself as "So-and-so's parent" or maybe "So-and-so's wife/husband/spouse" and it made you pause, you'll understand why this story is so important to put into the world. All we know about Angrboda according to the mythology is that she's Loki's first wife, and the mother of monsters. But she must have had a life beyond those two characterizations. She must have had her own wants and dreams. Finally, Angrboda's story is told.

This book was getting no shelf-love at my library so I've taken to pushing it (kindly and politely) on patrons I know will enjoy it. So far, so good.

Love this book! The writing is poetic and gorgeous. Gornichec effortlessly pieces together Norse sagas and eddas in a surprising new way, all from the point of view of Angrrboda, Loki's wife. For fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, this book won't dissapoint.

I really loved the subject matter but had a hard time getting into this book. There will be specific customers I will recommend to

Took a little time away from this book after reading it to process it. My initial inner review was less than favorable. I still can't quite put my finger on why, but possibly because for some reason I didn't go into this book realizing it was Norse mythology themed! Not that I dislike Norse Mythology, it just wasn't what I expected. Maybe I need to pay closer attention the back covers!

However the book grew on me, the main character is likable and I appreciated the a non mortal "outsider" view of the gods.

I wanted to love this book. It seemed like it had all of the bones of a good story but I really struggled to get into it. I gave it about 150 pages and had to throw in the towel and DNF. I would like to think that I will go back and try to read it again but I don't think I will. I appreciate you all sending me this title but it wasn't for me.

An interesting take on the Norse myths told from the point of view of one of the “monsters”. Heartwarming and heartbreaking by turns.

I really enjoyed this one! There was enough "familiar" with the myths that the story was accessible and there was a really nice movement to the story, fast paced but took its time with character development. While it's blanketed in Norse mythology, it's also a great story about family, friendship, perseverance, and forgiveness.

I really loved this. Despite a somewhat slow start, I ended up devouring The Witch's Heart and am now having a desire to read more stories featuring Norse mythology (there was even a handy list at the back for recommended reading!). Beautifully written, this both made me smile and broke my heart. This will be a contender for one of my favourite books of the year.

The story of Angrboda, wife of Loki, from Norse Mythology. If, like me, your knowledge of Norse mythology comes from the Thor Marvel movies, you need to read this book. There are so many inaccuracies in the movies, and much more complexity to the characters in this book. The difference between villain and hero is not as black and white as the cinema might imply; you just might find yourself rooting against the “good guy”. I couldn’t wait to see what happens, but sad to reach the end.

Genevieve Gornichec has taken the world of Norse myth and told their stories from outside the view of the main characters in a new and exciting way. The book follows the story of a powerful witch in her own right, who is influenced by and influences the lives of the Norse gods, most specifically Loki. You learn who she is as she does, and the ending might break your heart, but its a powerful tale of a mother's love.

#TheWitchsHeart #NetGalley

Wowowee! This book is something else!!! I didn’t imagine that I’d absolutely enjoy this Norse Mythology retelling so much! Beautifully written with action packed scenes especially during Ragnarok (a.k.a. End of the world), it felt like I was watching a movie. I enjoyed being re-acquainted with the gods/goddesses sans the Marvel costumes. The suspense leading up to Ragnarok kept me glued to the book. It sustained my interest because every scene was depicted very clearly that I had no problem recreating them in my mind. There was no lull or boring moment for me. I also didn’t mind the foreign-sounding names, google was a big help in the pronunciation department😆. I love love love Angrboda and Skadi, these 2 women were fierce and brave and had so much heart that I was literally cheering them on until the end. Angrboda’s truly the epitome of a selfless mother! I even liked Loki, the charming Trickster (which I’ll forever imagine as Tom Hiddleston). The ending left me teary-eyed, but also happy and satisfied because everything came full circle. The conclusion was fitting and it did not disappoint. If this was a movie, I’d clap and give standing ovation. This is how much I love the book! Hands down 🔖🔖🔖🔖🔖/5 rating for me! 💖💖💖

If you enjoyed Circe or The Song of Achilles, or just want a story about strong badass female characters, be sure to grab this. You won’t regret it.

Favorite quote:
“The ending doesn’t matter. What matters is how we get there. To face what’s ahead with as much dignity as we can muster and make the most of the time we have left.”

A magical Norse Mythology tale filled with gods and monsters that’s perfect for fantasy and mythology lovers. ⁣
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Confession - I was drawn to this because I love the Marvel movies. This book took my love of Thor, chewed it up and spit it out in the best way! Talk about reading outside my comfort zone! ⁣
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Angrboda is a witch with a special sight of foreseeing the future. Angered because she would teach him her ways, the God Oden burns her three times, leaving her without her heart and a mere husk of the woman she was. Loki steals her heart and returns it to her thus beginning a love affair with her and fathering her children. I won’t get into any specifics because the story is best left to unfold naturally as you read but it is a powerful tale of love, resilience, friendship and ultimately motherhood. ⁣
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There is a lot of world building and overall character development versus lots of action but it was all so fascinating that I just went with it and the story paid off. Angrboda is such a captivating character. ⁣
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A great book to pick up if you enjoy fantasy and/or mythology or are just looking forward a change of pace! ⁣
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I thought the synopsis for The Witch's Heart sounded so interesting, and a debut with a sapphic love story? Yes please! Unfortunately I should have learned already that I really struggle with mythology being in fiction books. I lost interest partway through, but I may try again at a later point. DNF

Just amazing. Emotionally devastating, especially the end. If you're even a little bit familiar with Norse mythology I think you'll dig it.

The Witch’s Heart is a gripping retelling of Norse mythology and the take on what we knew, The Witch’s Heart shows us a whole new tale of the unknown. From love, to betrayal, to family, to war, The Witch’s Heart was the perfect story of all of these combined and the story of Angrboda and the life she lived.

The Witch’s Heart was the perfect introduction to Norse mythology for me, prompting me to give it five stars. It was a heart-wrenching tale of love, betrayal, family, and war. It was everything I was looking for. I loved that we saw the transition of Angrboda’s life and how her relationship with Loki developed. Their relationship was unexpected but it was beautiful because they were there for each other.

When the tables turned and the plot thickened, it was amazing. I felt so emotionally invested that when The Witch’s Heart ended, I didn’t want it to end. The characters and the plot were amazing and I thought that it was something I looked forward to every time I read The Witch’s Heart. I knew from the beginning that The Witch’s Heart was going to be an amazing introduction to Norse mythology for me and I was right. It wasn’t too heavy on evidence and information like it would be in nonfiction, and it was a perfect balance of fiction and mythology.

The Witch’s Heart made me smile, made me nervous, made me sad, and sometimes, it made me really angry, but each moment I continued to read it was the moment I knew that this truly was an amazing read.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Ace Books for inviting me to read The Witch’s Heart and providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch's Heart is a Norse Mythology retelling, and I am unfamiliar with it, so my review will be from an unbiased perspective.

I enjoyed this novel, as much as one who does not typically read fantasy novels can. It was pretty far outside my comfort zone, but it was beautifully written, with a unique storyline that held my attention the entire book. The relationship between Angrboda and Loki was so foreign to me but I enjoyed Loki's innocence and Boda's love for him despite his flaws.

I would highly recommend this to readers at my library who enjoy Fantasy novels, but perhaps not ones who are looking for witch books in the magical realism genre (as I thought perhaps this was going to be). This was a great read, and it makes me want to read more in the Fantasy genre in the future

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec: Enchanting and Powerful
When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.
Angrboda’s story begins where most witches' tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.
Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.
With help from the fierce huntress Skadi, with whom she shares a growing bond, Angrboda must choose whether she’ll accept the fate that she’s foreseen for her beloved family...or rise to remake their future. From the most ancient of tales this novel forges a story of love, loss, and hope for the modern age.
I adore mythology. I admit to favoring Greek Mythology but I devoured all of the mythology I could get my hands over the years, including Norse Mythology. This story catapults off the story of the mother of monsters aka the witch who mothered Loki’s more unusual offspring, Fenrir, Hel, and Jörmungandr. But this is not Loki’s narrative. This is Angrboda’s. And while I loved reading about the gods as a child, as an adult, I found this reimagining of the narrative far more compelling and enthralling. This story is far more layered, far more complex, and decidedly far more feminine in nature.
Rather than being driven by the patriarchal society that we see among the Norse Gods, led by Odin, in this tale, we are told the female point of view. While there are reasons for all Odin does, Angrboda doesn’t know those reasons or must discover them, and she is ill treated by the Norse deities, her soul and body harmed. And yet, this is also a love story.
She falls in love with Loki when he returns her heart and much of the story develops that relationship. It is an intriguing view of Loki, the trickster, as someone who is far less in control than we imagine and yet, still falls short of what he could be. But there are twists and turns within this novel and it is not only the love between Angrboda and Loki that is featured within. It is also the love of a mother for her children, a woman for her friend Skadi, and a woman for her own power as she fights to recover that power to save who and what she can from a cataclysm. And it is ultimately about sacrifice.
I think the most subversive quality about this novel is that a woman’s power doesn’t come from men. It comes from within her and only she can give it away, only she can choose when and where to use, lose, or sacrifice her power. As women, we so often have our narrative taken away by men but within this story, Angrboda takes back her narrative, her power. I think that is the message all women need to learn, to take back our narrative, our power and only use it as we wish. This novel does a beautiful job of conveying that message all within the confines of a Norse story woven with love and sacrifice, adventure and magic.
This is one of the most powerful tales I’ve read in a long time. If you love magic, mythology, and a writer that weaves new ideas out of the old, this is a story for you. It is enchanting and not soon forgotten. And it is one of the few stories, where I almost wanted more story so I didn’t have to finish.
Rating: 5 out of 5 children.

I loved this book!! I’m a huge fan of any and all mythology, but there is just something so fascinating about Norse myths and the characters within them. This book flips the script on what we usually know about Norse myths: Loki and Angrboda (usually the “bad guys”) are now our heroes, doing whatever it takes to protect their children. Angrboda in particular is an amazing character, fierce and loving, powerful and determined, and her relationships with the other characters are so compelling.